Northern Building Designs

We are accredited to provide NatHERS (Nation Wide House Energy Rating Scheme) Thermal Performance Assessments through BDAV, who are a nationally accredited AAO.
All new construction of residential dwellings and additions to existing dwellings that modify or add a habitable room will require an energy efficiency assessment to obtain a building permit.
We offer two forms of obtaining compliance, firstly by using Firstrate-5, Energy Star Rating Software that will model the building to a specific star rating.
The program can look at different options that will keep costs at the minimum to arrive at the required Star rating, or by improving the rating to save costs on cooling the building.
The second way is by using the BCA Deem to satisfy provisions that will confirm that the dwelling meets the minimal energy compliance of the Building Code of Australian. This format is normally only used for small add-on Additions. While it is easier for small additions, it has major limitations on building materials, especially when using block work which requires all the external walls to be fully shaded and painted in light colours or in extreme applications the wall may need to battened out and insulated to meet compliance. There are also limitations on glazing and air movement when using this method